Cultivated Silk Top description:

Cultivated silk is the finest of all fibers. Cultivated silk worms, Bombyx mori, eat only mulberry leaves, which contain very little tannin, so their fibers are beautifully white. It is perfect for dyeing, blending and spinning. Knitters take note: 100% silk yarn will not hold its shape well when knitted because silk fibers have very little elasticity. Consider blending silk with wool or camel down for a more "knittable" yarn, or use textured stitches and cables.

Demi-Carded Silk Bundles description:

Straight from the land of beautiful silk saris comes our demi-carded silk "opener batts" in two jewel tones and fun-to-dye-it-yourself white. Ready for carding and blending to create unique hand spun art yarns. Take advantage of the lustrous colors or dye your own. Fiber is similar in texture to silk noil yet has a softer hand.

Perfect for creative uses in felting to achieve visual and textural interest. Create a masterpiece by taking advantage of long strips of vibrant colored fiber to highlight your wet felted projects. Silk bundles are approximately 5-6 ounces. Available in 3 shades. White - 1, Rose/Antique Gold - 2, Turquoise/Blue/Green - 3

Dyed Silk Cocoons description:

A filament fiber, silk comes from the cocoons of several insects of the order Lepidoptera. To use silk cocoons, soften them in almost boiling water and allow them to soften and then unwind, as a cocoon is really a center pull skein. To do traditional reeled silk several are softened at a time and then reeled and twisted. These silk cocoons have been degummed. Dyed in a rainbow of colors. The cocoons are packaged in 1 oz. bags and contain approximately 80-90 cocoons.

Pulled Sari Silk Fiber, 1/4 lb bag description:

Imagine the mystery and exotic glamour of Indian saris in the glowing iridescence you bring to your spinning, felting... and paper making (and possibly your knitting and weaving) with Sari Silk Fiber. It is an ultimate luxury in reuse/recycle and all things good because the fiber is "reclaimed" from pre production waste. These gossamer webs of color and beauty are just waiting for your imagination to bring them to life.

Loose fiber is packaged in a rainbow hued assortment of glowing color from which you can pull out and select color ranges, or blend or card with your own fine fibers to create a yarn of unmistakable beauty and character.

Sold by the bag, 1/4 lb. ea.

Silk Cocoons description:

A filament fiber, silk comes from the cocoons of several insects of the order Lepidoptera. To use silk cocoons, soften them in almost boiling water and allow them to soften and then unwind, as a cocoon is really a center pull skein. To do traditional reeled silk several are softened at a time and then reeled and twisted. These silk cocoons have been degummed.

Silk Noil description:

Silk noil, also know as "raw silk" is short knots of fiber gathered from the inner part of the silk cocoon. When spinning you will find the characteristics of this fiber to be very similar to those of cotton. Be sure to put enough twist in your yarn to insure its strength. It can be spun alone or try blending it with other fibers. Silk noil is the perfect choice when you want to add texture to your yarn. If you are looking for a wider color palette, the tussah silk noil also dyes well. We recommend using the Wash Fast Acid or Country Classic dyes.

Tussah Silk Top description:

Tussah silk is produced by wild or semi-cultivated worms of the genus Antheraea. These worms eat leaves of oak, plum, jujube or castor bean plants which contain varying amounts of tannin. Depending upon the diet of the silk worm, tussah silk can range in color from off-white to light brown (see item 395). The fibers of our tussah silk top are a soft honey color. They are combed and ready for worsted spinning or combining with other fibers.